Endorsement

About two years ago Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo squared off in a huge console war, when they each released their newest machines; Playstation 3, XBOX 360 and the Wii. Sony was offering a console with improved everything making it comparable more so to a computer versus a video game system. Oh and it doubles as a blue ray disc player. The XBOX 360 improved its game play and internet usage, it also linked up with Netflix to provide its owners with instant movie downloads. Then there was Nintendo's Wii, which was nearly $200 cheaper than its rivals. However, it being cheaper meant weaker graphics and less add-ons, such as a CD player or movie player. But Nintendo did have one ace up their sleeve, motion sensitive controllers.

Thought of as a gimmick by serious 'gamers', the gimmick won the console war for Nintendo (price did not hurt either). But the Wii was much than a fad, its layout was easy to navigate, easy on the eye and fun to use. The channels, such as the news and weather channels, were on point and easy to access. However the best thing the Wii offered was its virtual console. The library is ever expanding but does include games from your NES, Super Nintendo, and SEGA.

However the system is still struggling to find/create new hit games that relate to the 'gamers'. Making this quote from Shia LeBeouf somewhat credible, "I don't mess with the Wii, to be honest with you. It's kind of an amatuer console." But I will argue the Wii's only amateur due to it's appeal to amateur gamers; to those who have either never played video games or haven't played since Pong. To contrast Shia, the Wii is a heavyweight because there are a some excellent games that make game play easier and more fun, without you needing to to buy a $20.00 strategy guide.

Wasted Time

On Wednesday June 24 "Transformers: Rise of the Fallen" was released, raking in $60.6 million, coming in behind "The Dark Knight" for all time debuts. However that is not the story surrounding the film, instead people are leaving theaters upset over two autobots, Skids and Mudflap. The two robots have hit many sensitive nerves with their 'stereotypical' portrayal of African Americans, they are jive talking, goofy, quick to fight characters, essentially they're the movie's blackbots. Obviously whenever stereotypes find their way onto screens, problems will follow, but for people to feel offended by these characters is ridiculous.

It should be noted that this is not the first time director Michael Bay included a blackbot in a Transformers film. The Pontiac, that was easily killed by Megatron, was seen break dancing and also heard jive talking during the first film. Yet there was no outrage then, so why now? The characters are just funny, changing the tone for a minute and allowing the audience to laugh. Putting these characters into context, we have to remember they're robots! There is absolutely nothing 'black' about first being a robot and second in their appearance (unless of course ONLY black people have gold teeth), as they do not have dreads, cornrows, a do rag and so forth. Those offended need their skin thickened, plain and simple. Leave the robots alone and get serious about a real issue.

What A Clown

By now many of you have heard the details surrounding the will.i.am/Black Eyed Peas and Perez Hilton feud. The incident in Toronto was not a big deal, a guys got punched. That's all that happened, no one's life was ever in danger, no weapons were used and no threats of future violence were made. Worse happens every weekend in bars across America, and the only reason we are being bombarded with 'news' reports on the matter is because this cry babe sought some more attention. Perez Hilton it is certainly time you took a little criticism, especially after certain remarks you made.

While 'reporting' your account of the fight via a videoblog, Perez said, "I like reporting on other people's drama. I don't like drama in my life." Seriously?! There are consequences to people's actions in real life Perez. You can not continually throw or dig up dirt on people and not expect a backlash. What you do pisses people off, especially since it is not merely reporting but also chalk full of opinion. Then to top it off, Perez admitted to calling will.i.am, a straight man, a faggot. Again, seriously?! This is the same judge, who during the Miss America Pageant, blasted Miss California for opposing the legalization of gay marriage. Anyone else seeing the hypocrisy? Perez, an open homosexual, ought to know better and he has no plausible explanation for using the term.

Before this incident I had no opinion of Perez, I had never read his blog or payed attention to anything he did. However, following this incident I can not help but form an opinion on the man, and I have to say he is an ass. I can not respect someone who slings mud while wearing white expecting not to get dirty. The only shameful thing from this incident, is that the manager of the Black Eyed Peas did not knock him out.

This Is AMER-ican Idol

Nearly 9 years ago Fox premiered a new program, which sought America's next pop sensation. And after 8 seasons American Idol still reigns supreme, dominating airways and making celebrities out of contestants. Initially the show was must see TV but not because of the talent they had found, rather because of the talentless singers and incredibly mean evaluations from judge Simon Cowell. Every Tuesday millions upon millions of people tuned in to hear the horrible singing and funny/oh my god did he really just say that moments, and after several weeks of such, the TV show was a hit. I am no hater of the show, in fact I was a fan early on, but what amazes me is the turn out year after year in cities across America.

Yesterday in Chicago 12,000 people lined up at the United Center to audition for their chance at fame and fortune. Prior to coming to Chicago, auditions also held in Boston and Atlanta drew crowds of 9,000, making the 3 city total 30,000. They all waited in these long lines for a chance to make the cut to later auditions for executive producers and then as a third cut audition for judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. So before ever getting the chance to see your favorite judges, you have to endure 2 days of gruelling waits with thousands of people.

One would think, that especially after 8 seasons, such a process would deter folks from coming out year after year, to city after city, but it doesn't. Which makes me wonder 2 things, what are they thinking and where are their friends? Normal people understand what their physical limits are and whether or not you can sing is obvious after puberty. So what are people who make dogs howl thinking? For example I think I am good at baseball but I am not running to open try outs, waisting time and money because realistically I know I am not good enough. But understanding some people have warped minds, I next am stuck on where these people's friends are. Friends are supposed to be the people who keep you grounded, making sure your ego is always in check. So why aren't they telling these people to give it up? If any of my friends are bad at something they know about it, no matter what it may be, drinking games, video games, pretty much anything you can think of.

To those with talent, legit talent, I am glad American Idol is around. Without it Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood could still be undiscovered talents, meaning it does serve a purpose. However for every contestant who makes the final cut there are about 10,000 people who tried out and failed, even after 9 seasons. The maybe 5 minutes of fame can not possibly be worth it, so please, pretty please, people get a better grasp of reality. My tool belt can't fit all of you.

I Need A New Barber

I have long been a fan of graphics in hair. Being from Humboldt Park I am no stranger to seeing crazy designs and phrases on the back of someone's dome. But when it is done right I think it is some of the coolest stuff you can do, it's a temporary head tattoo. For instance this year when Lakers forward Lamar Odom donned a faint star on his head, I thought that is dope. Then the playoffs came and ex Bull/current Rocket Ron Artest had the Rockets logo cut out on his head, that idea and design easily took the cake. But while surfing the web I cam across this dude and his cut, and for the life of me I have no idea why I never thought of this?!? These graphics are not only hilarious but brilliant. Just take it and imagine seeing this dude in a class of yours or walking past you on the street. Dude is a showstopper.

Beatin the Case

GRAY

Whoop that trick Wednesday:
Wide Recievers just have it easy these days.

I don’t know if it’s possible to make whoop an entire county in the state of Florida. But in the wake of Donte Stallworth’s ridiculously light sentence for taking a life, I’m going to give it a try this Wednesday. In March of this year,Stallworth, a Cleveland Browns WR, was boozing and cruising in his 2005 Bentley late one evening in Miami Beach when he struck and KILLED a pedestrian, Mario Reyes, a 59 year old construction worker. Stallworth was arrested and charged with a DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Now different states have different laws when it comes to DUIs. And in Florida, vehicular manslaughter is vehicular manslaughter, whether the driver was drunk at the time or not. So, despite Stallworth being smashed with a blood alcohol content of .12, the legal system in Miami-Dade County treated this case as they would any other negligent death in which a careless driver hit a pedestrian.

After posting bail, Stallworth was extremely contrite about what he’d done, as expected. The humble and well respected wide receiver offered public apologies to the Reyes family over and over again, and made a point to work swiftly with his attorney’s to compensate the family for their loss. During the months leading up to his arraignment, he avoided any civil lawsuit by reaching a financial agreement with the Reyes family and he publicly announced his plans to plead guilty and throw himself at the mercy of the court. Well mercy ended up being an understatement. Yesterday, Stallworth was sentenced to just 30 days in jail for ending Reyes’ life, and he will reportedly serve just 24 days of that sentence.

I’m whooping Miami-Dade County for actually trying to convince themselves, and the rest of us, that 30 days in jail is punishment enough for taking a man’s life. I understand that accidents happen and sometimes those accidents end in death, but despite Stallworth’s contrition and heavy conscience, his crime was ridiculously hanus. Stallworth was smashed, doing 50 in a 40 when he popped a curb and hit a man waiting at the bus stop to return home after finishing his late shift. It was 7:15 in the morning, and the man he hit wasn’t even in the crosswalk. F how sorry he was after the fact, all Stallworth has to do is hire someone to drive his Bentley when he’s smashed and this hard-working crane operator gets to live to see 60. But of course, he’s a wide receiver in the NFL, so he has to stunt at all times. The maximum sentence for vehicular manslaughter is a year in jail. So 24 days is a joke in my opinion. Stallworth certainly delivered the maximum penalty to Mario Reyes when he struck him while driving drunk,….so a little reciprocation in the legal system would be nice.

The Hall

Sixteen year old Las Vegas high school sophomore, Bryce Harper, is being featured on the latest cover of Sports Illustrated. He is being touted as the next big thing in sports. In fact the cover even claims he is the most exciting prodigy since Lebron James. In their interview with the young man he speaks of, at 16 mind you, his aspirations to be enshrined at Cooperstown. Had it been any other sport, the young man would not have thought to mention the Hall. Because although being immortalized in Canton or Springfield is still quite the honor, neither means as much as Cooperstown.

Baseball statistics have long been the most heralded in the sporting world. Milestones such as 500 home runs, 300 wins and 3,000 hits are more than statistics. Kareem Abdul Jabaar's career point total or Jerry Rice's touchdown total, for example, are some ridiculous numbers. But Ken Griffey Jr. hitting 600 home runs still means more. Even if it is 100 short of the all time record. But with the release of several books, a senate report, and positive test results, the numbers of the last 10-20 years have been deemed 'tainted'.

Steroids has taken claim of its own era in baseball history. Potential first ballot (I only say potential because Mark McGwire is still waiting for the Hall's call) Hall of Famers played pivotal roles during this dark era, many wonder now how do you distinguish these dirty players from the rest. And now the asterisk is even more popular than it was in 1961, as the most popular suggestion is to create a new asterisk wing to the Hall. The wing would serve as a way to induct those whose numbers were sky high during this era of inflated numbers. To this and any other suggestion promoting segregation, I say, "Really? No, really?"

Is the NFL creating a separate wing for today's players? No. But why don't they? In comparison, due to many rule changes, today's game is far less brutal and wide open. Leading to the inflated numbers of many- along with prolonging their careers. How about the NBA, are they protecting the legacy of their players by letting the fans know how much more 'hands on' defense used to be? Of course not, instead it's perfectly fine with David Stern when Lebron or Kobe are shooting free throws when they create the contact.

Major League Baseball and the Hall of Fame need not take any action. Barry Bonds, steroids or not, was still the best player in the league. Roger Clemens was still one of the best pitchers to take the mound. Rules and context surrounding the game constantly change. Once sports writers and baseball consider putting asterisks next to the plaques of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or Ty Cobb and so forth, then I will be open to the idea of an asterisk wing. All these players were merely products of their time. Just like you can't fault those players for playing in an all white MLB, you can't fault today's guys for being susceptible to the lore of millions of dollars. They're all just products of their time.